In the fourth part of a series of look-aheads at Coloradoâ€™s 2010 season, broken down by units, we look at the Buffsâ€™ wide receivers and tight ends â€¦

Newcomers: Recruiting disappointments at wide receiver have plagued coach Dan Hawkins, but luck has been on his side lately in finding receivers in other ways. Michigan transfer Toney Clemons (6-2, 210) was recently voted preseason Big 12 newcomer of the year by the leagueâ€™s media. Kyle Cefalo (5-10, 175), a former baseball player at Oregon State, also looked good last year in practice. Then, presto, freshman Paul Richardson (6-1, 175) joined the team earlier this month after being released from his UCLA scholarship following an off-the-field incident. And days later, former Southern Cal wideout Travon Patterson got cleared to be a Buff for his final season of college ball.

Seemingly overnight, CUâ€™s wideout corps became one of the Big 12â€™s most potent groups, including senior standout Scotty McKnight. As for the tight ends, there are also fresh faces, including redshirt-freshman DaVaughn Thornton from Denver East and three true freshmen. Thornton (6-4. 225) is perhaps CUâ€™s most athletic tight end since All-American Daniel Graham and was a star of the spring game. Former Chatfield athlete Kyle Slavin is among the trio of true freshmen.

Biggest losses: Junior wide receiver Markques Simas became arguably CUâ€™s best player during the final month of the 2009 season. But he left the program in the spring after being suspended for yet another off-the-field problem. The departures of senior tight ends Riar Geer (36 catches and four TDs in 2009) and Patrick Devenny (13, three TDs) left a big void in experience at that position. Their leadership also will be missed.

Strengths: In addition to the newcomers, sophomore Will Jefferson looks to be vastly improved and led everybody in Thursdayâ€™s scrimmage with seven catches. Junior Kendrick Celestine is back after a yearâ€™s hiatus to his native Louisiana, and senior Andre Simmons, a former four-star recruit, will try to show that he isnâ€™t a bust. Hawkins said redshirt freshman Jarrod Darden also is, well, catching on. As if a genie appeared, the wideout group amazingly has transformed in one year from one of the thinnest in the Big 12 to one of the deepest. At tight end, junior Ryan Deehan has had plenty of reps.

Weaknesses: Most of the newcomers worked with CU quarterbacks Tyler Hansen and Cody Hawkins in summer 7-on-7 drills, but there are a lot of new faces to take a crash course in learning the offense and to â€śget on the same page,â€ť as coaches like to say. McKnight is three catches away from becoming the schoolâ€™s all-time leader in receptions, but everybody else is largely unproven â€“ at least in a CU uniform and against Big 12 competition.

What to look for: Newcomers Clemons, Patterson and Richardson are among the fastest players on the team and, for the first time in Dan Hawkinsâ€™ five years as coach, the Buffs will be able to stretch the defense and give McKnight more room to work underneath. This could be a lethal group if CU quarterbacks have time to throw and can get them the ball.